State Revokes License of Daycare Where Roswell Child, 3, Died

The residential daycare program where a three-year-old Roswell child died earlier this month has had its license revoked by the state.

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, or DECAL on Wednesday issued the revocation to Janna V. Thompson, who owns and operates Ms. Janna’s Daycare at 145 Shady Grove Lane in Alpharetta.

A recent investigation by the state agency “determined that rule violations contributed to the death of a child that was not medically anticipated,” said DECAL Chief Communications Officer Reg Griffin.

The Center has 10 days to appeal the license revocation to an administrative law judge with the Office of State Administrative Hearings, Griffin added.

Parents impacted by this situation can connect with child care resources atwww.allgakids.org or by calling 1-877-ALL GA KIDS.

Parents will be assisted in locating quality child care options, a service that will be provided for free.

“At DECAL, our top priority is the health and safety of our state’s young learners, ages birth to five years old,” Griffin added.

The daycare was initially issued an Order for Intended Emergency Closure of a Family Day Care Home after the incident happened.

Alpharetta police responded to a call just before 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 8 at the daycare.

Officers found Thompson performing CPR on Thomas Stephens, 3, of Roswell, who was found not breathing an unconscious at the daycare, according to an incident report released by the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety.

Thomas was rushed to North Fulton Hospital where he died the next day. It was determined the boy died by strangulation on a piece of twine attached to a slide at the daycare, according to WSB-TV.

Thompson told the responding officer she did not know “where he got the string” that was found around his neck. Thompson also told officers that she left Thomas “outside by himself for a few minutes while she took another child inside for some discipline,” the incident report states.

Alpharetta police launched its investigation into the death the day after the child passed away.

The violations cited by DECAL weren’t the first rule violations issued by the state.

Records show DECAL inspectors during a licensing study visit in January cited the center, which has been up and running in the same location for 25 years, for safety violations around its playground.

Specifically, hazards such as a wheel barrow located against a fence, an unraveled water house, excessive tree limbs and pine cones were observed throughout the outdoor play area. Two protruding nails to the right of a wooden ladder on the wooden climber were also cited.